Can I put a MK2 wiper motor into the rabbit?

[rabbitman]

So after reading about swapping wiper motors I went and bought a MK2 wiper motor to swap into the rabbit. Now I was reading again and everyone is actually using MK3 wiper motors.

So is the MK2 motor the same swap or do I have to go get a MK3 one?

[R.O.R-2.0]

mk2 motor will work, but mk3 motor is stronger..

[8v-of-fury]

Usually people do this mod if their stock motor is worn.. And while replacing why not upgrade right?

I have seen no actual difference between the mk3 and mk2 motors. I have an mk1, mk2, and mk3. Stock mk1 sucked, so I put in an mk3.. But its no difference than the gf's mk2.

Stronger? What are you clearing off your windshield!? Body parts?

[maxfax]

With a healthy MK3 motor the low speed is almost like the high setting on a MK1 motor..  Throw some heavy snow fall in, and the difference is amazing..   If you crack em open and compare, there are more windings on the MK3 motor than the priors..  I've heard tales of the very late MK2 wiper motors having the extra windings like a MK3 motor, but I have yet to be able to verify this..

The MK3 motor does require one to swap the contact plate to be used in a MK1 or 2..    Fairly simple swap, there is a good writeup with pics on Vortex about this...

[rabbitman]

I can get febi MK2 wiper motors for 25 bucks new while the MK3 one is over 70 so I'll stick with the MK2 stuff.

[maxfax]

Yeah, it's that price difference that's the kicker..  Even a new Mk1/2 motor is an upgrade to the well worn units most of us have..  I wouldn't have upgraded if I wasn't able to grab em used at $5 a throw..

[R.O.R-2.0]

With a healthy MK3 motor the low speed is almost like the high setting on a MK1 motor..  Throw some heavy snow fall in, and the difference is amazing..   If you crack em open and compare, there are more windings on the MK3 motor than the priors..  I've heard tales of the very late MK2 wiper motors having the extra windings like a MK3 motor, but I have yet to be able to verify this..

The MK3 motor does require one to swap the contact plate to be used in a MK1 or 2..    Fairly simple swap, there is a good writeup with pics on Vortex about this...

ive got a couple late 92s, how sure are you that they got extra windings?

[maxfax]

I'm not sure at all, and I've only got early MK2 stuff around to check..  Most of the parts listings I have seen only list one motor for the entire MK2 run..   But in true VW fashion, it's difficult to tell what they may have thrown on them at the factory.. They could have run out of MK2 housings and armatures for the last 2,000 mk2 Jettas they built, and just used the newly developed MK3 stuff to finish them up...

IIRC the MK3 motor even feels heavier than the earlier ones..  When you crack them open you;ll see there are more windings on the armature...

[rabbitman]

Well so far this a fail, I'm in the process of swapping the cover plates and so far I discovered that the electrical contact on the big plastic gear is the same.

But since the motors in MK1 vs. MK2 the motors mount (approximately) 180 degrees different so the contacts on the cover plate are totally different meaning I have to use the MK1 cover plate or the wipers will stop in funny positions.

The problem here is that the holes don't quite line up and if I get it slightly wrong weird things will happen due to misaligned contacts.

I'll go mess with it some more.

[maxfax]

Interesting..   Could you swap the big gear in there too maybe??   

[rabbitman]

I'm looking at this: http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?3465098

The gears are VERY similar but not quite the same.

I think I need to scratch my last post. The way I'm seeing it now is if the wipers stop in a weird position can't I just run the motor, let it stop at the bottom and then bolt the arm on in the correct position and be good to go?

All I'd have to do is swap the MK1 plug onto the MK2 motor and if I get it wired right it'll work?

I'll go look at it again.

[maxfax]

The way I'm seeing it now is if the wipers stop in a weird position can't I just run the motor, let it stop at the bottom and then bolt the arm on in the correct position and be good to go?

All I'd have to do is swap the MK1 plug onto the MK2 motor and if I get it wired right it'll work?

You got it..  I didn't realize you already had the arm on the MK2 motor..  Even when I've gotten new/reman motors I've had to do just as you mentioned above to get them to park in the right place...

We need to copy that writeup from Vortex and archive it here somewhere...

[rabbitman]

I didn't have the arm on the motor yet. I pulled the motor outa the parts bunny and was trying to use its cover plate on the mk2 motor.

After some thinkin' I decided to splice the MK1 plug onto the MK2 motor and call it good. I'm now waiting for the correct connectors to arrive.......probably tomorrow.

[rabbitman]

Spliced in the MK1 plug to the MK2 motor and got it to work the only problem is the MK1 motor has a mounting tab on it to stabilize everything so without the whole assembly bounces around a little bit when running.